Fiber container with side seam opening and reclosing feature



Sept. 28, 1 M. c. ALLEN ETAL FIBER CONTAINER WITH SIDE SEAM OPENING AND RECLOSING FEATURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1949 m 0/ T16 E N AM N mc w N m 7 10 A 0 A M M M zfl V. Y B

Sept. 28, 1 4 V M. c. ALLEN ET AL FIBER CONTAINER WITH SIDE SEAM OPENING AND RECLOSING FEATURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1 1949 INVENTOR. MALCOLM C ALLEN DON/1L0. G. MAG/4 M kM A TTOE/VE'Y Patented Sept. 28, 1954 FIBER CONTAINER WITH SIDE SEAM OPEN- ING AND RECLOSING FEATURE Malcolm C. Allen, Westport, Conn., and Donald G. Magill, Great Neck, N. Y., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application dugust 1, 1949, Serial No. 107,864

, 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to fibre containers of the variety used for frozen food products, cottage cheese, and many/other commodities, and has particular reference to such a container that may be opened and reclosed at the side seam of the containerbody.

An object of the invention is the provision of a fibre container having a side seam and side wall construction whereby the container may be readily opened by a mere prying apartof the laps of the side seam and reclosed by a repositioning of the side seam portions or laps of the container.

Another object is the provision of such a container wherein the repositioned'side seam portions of the container may be locked together in such a manner as to retain them in their repositioned relation and thus provide a complete reclosure for the container.'

Another object is the provision of such a container wherein locking ledges are set off by score lines disposed transversely of the seam so that upon separation of the side seam portions of the container body the score lines are ruptured and the ledges are fully exposed for interlocking the seam portions when they are repositioned for reclosing the container.

Another object is the provision of such a container wherein clearance notches are provided at the terminal ends of the score lines to facilitate separation of the seam laps without damaging portions of the seam beyond those laps and which portions serve as looking ledges.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed container embodying the instant invention in the side wall which contains the lap seam.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing the container in an opened condition;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the container in a reclosed condition;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines 44 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and disclose a modified form of the invention; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines 88 in Fig. 5.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of illustrate a container comprising a fibre tubular body ll of rectangular shape, having metallic end members l2 secured thereto in suitable end seams B. The body preferably is formed from a single blank of sheet material having side seam marginal edge portions I4, ||5 overlapped and adhesively secured together by a band of adhesive IE to provide a lapped side seam H. The ends of the seam preferably are incorporated in theend seams l3.

The band of adhesiv l6 preferably is set back a short distance from the outer edge of the upper or outer fiap or seam portion I4 so as to leave a narrow section I8 (Fig. 2) unsecured to the lower or inner flap or seam portion l5. Adjacent the end members l2, the body II is provided with score lines 2|, 22 which are disposed at an angle to and extend toward and across the side seam l'l. These score lines preferably are parallel to and spaced from each other.

There are two score lines 2|, disposed one adjacent each end member I2 preferably at right angles to the side seam I! and they extend from one corner of the body into and through the upper or outer seam or lap portion l4 (Figs. 1 and 4) to define the lateral edges of an upper or outer opening fiap in the body. The terminal ends of these score lines extend into clearance notches 23 formed in the terminal edge of the seam or lap portion l4.

There are also two score lines 22, disposed one adjacent each of the score lines 2| preferably at right angles to the side seam l1 and they extend from the opposite corner of the body into and through the lower or inner seam portion or lap l5 (Figs. 1 and 4) to define the lateral edges of a lower or inner opening flap. Each of these score lines 22 are spaced inwardly of its corresponding score line 2| in an offset relation to provide a projection or ledge 25 at each end (Fig. 2) as will be hereinafter explained.

When it is desired to open the container it is merely necessary to insert a fiat tool such as a knife, letter opener, etc. under the unsecured section I8 of the side seam l1 and run it along the seam from one notch 23 to the other. In this manner the outer seam portion or lap l4 may be pried loose and separated from the inner seam portion or lap l5, thus rupturing or opening the seam. The notches 23 serve as clearance or outlet spaces for the knife and thus preyent separation of the seam beyond the portion to be opened, leaving the seam terminals adjacent the end members 12 intact. With the side seam between the notches 23 ruptured, the loose seam portions l4, l5 may be readily lifted upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to open the entire side of the container to gain access to its contents. This lifting of the seam portions l4, l5 ruptures the score lines 2|, 22 and exposes the offset ledge or projection 25 (Fig. 2) adjacent each end of the container. These ledges '25 are in fact undisturbed projections .or remnants of the inner seam portion l5 and are utilized in reclosing the container.

To reclose the container it is merely necessary to reposition the loose side seam portions l4, 15 in their original overlapped positionand press or push them down into the container a short distance just below the ledges 25 as best shown in Fig. 3. In this manner the outer seam portion I4 is engaged under the ledges I25 and is locked in position thereby. The outer seam portion thus holds the inner seam portion in position and the container is thereby effectively closed, the ledges 25 serving as looking ledges for holding both seam portions M, 15 in closed position.

As a modified form of the invention Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings disclose a container similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In this modified form of the invention the side seam I? is traversed by score lines the'major'portions of which coincide or are in alignment with each other. For this purpose the container body H is formed with a pair of straight score lines 2'! (Figs. 5 and 8) disposed one adjacent each end member i2 preferably at right angles to the side seam H and extending from one corner of the body into and through the lower or inner seam portion or lap 15.

The body I! is also formed with a pair of score lines 28 which are coincident with or in alignment with the score lines 21 for a major portion of their length andextending from an opposite corner of the body into and through the'upper or outer seam portion or lap Hi. If desired these score lines may terminate inclearance notches formed in the terminal edge of the outer s'eam portion It as shown in the preferred form of the invention. In the outer seam portion 14 the score lines 28 preferably curve outwardly along a curved line 29 which sets oif in the seam portion M a tab or lug *3! which extends beyond the score line i in the inner seam portion I5.

Hence when the container is opened by rupturing the side seam H with a flattool and the separated seam parts lifted as disclosed in the preferred form of the invention, the tabs' 3l in the outer seam portion is arebrolren loosefrom the inner seam portion 15 and thereby expose a projecting ledge 32 (Fig. 6) adjacent eachend of the container for use in reclosing the container.

Thus when the container is reclosed by a repositioning of the loose side seam portions M, It in their original overlapped position and a pressing or pushing of these overlapped portions down into the container, the tabs 31 snap past the ledges -32 and engage under-the ledges as best shown in Fig. 7. In this manner the tabs 3! and ledges 32 lock the outer seam portion 14 in place and the outer seam portion holds the inner seam portion l5 in place, thus effectively reclosing the container.

If desired the tabs 3| may be formedin the 4 inner seam portion l5 instead of the outer seam portion 14 and in both cases the tabs could extend inwardly instead of outwardly with equal results.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, :construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material adva'ntages, the form hereinbefore described being *merely a preferred embodiment thereof. 7

We claim:

1. Areadily opened and reclosable container of rigid fibre and sheet metal construction per se, comprising in combination a tubular fibre body of rigid fibre having a side seam formed from overlap-ping marginal portions of the body which fare"adhesivelysecured over at least a portion of the overlapping area andalso constitute in part inner and outer opening flaps, separate sheet meal and membersysecured to the opposed end edges of said rigid fibre body in end seams, a pair 'o'f'axially spaced score lines extending through said outer flap andbeyond said over lapped area into the body material and also spaced inwardly from said end seams, a second pair or" axially spaced score lines extending through said inner nap and beyond said overlapped area into the body material and at least p'ortionsof said second pair of score lines in said overlapped area being spaced inwardly from corresponding portions of said first pair of score lines, thedifferential spacing of said pairs of score lines "from said end seams providing a rigid locking ledge in the body material of the undisturbed remainder of the inner lap of said overlapping marginal portions thereby permitting'the outer flap to be'locked under said ledge as a reclosure after the flaps have been separated from their adhesive connection and severed along said pairs of score lines.

2. A readily opened and reclosable container of rigid fibre and sheet metal construction per se, comprising in combination a tubular fibre body of rigid fibre having a. side seam formed from overlappingmarginal portions of the body which are adhesivel-y secured over at least a portion of the overlapping area and also-constitute in part inner and outer opening naps, separate sheet metal end members secured to the opposed end edges of said rigid fibre body in end seams, a. pairoi axially spaced score lines extending through saidouter flap and beyond said overlapped area into the body material and also spaced inwardly from said end seams, a second pair of axiallyspaced-score lines extending through said inner flap and beyond said overlapped area into the body -material each score line of said second pair being spaced inwardly from its adjacent end seam a greater distance than its corresponding score line of said first pairof score lines, the differential spacing of said pairs of score lines from said end seams providingnarrow loclcing ledges in the body material of the undisturbed remainder of the inner lap of said overlapping marginal portions thereby per'mitting 'the'outer flap to be looked under said ledges as a reclosure after the flaps have been separated from their adhesive connection and severed along said pairs of score lines.

3. A readily opened and reclosable container of rigid fibre and sheet metal construction per se, comprising in combination a tubular fibre body of rigid fibre having a side seam formed from overlapping marginal portions of the body which are adhesively secured over at least a portion of the overlapping area and also constitute in part inner and outer opening flaps, separate sheet metal end members secured to the opposed end edges of said rigid fibre body in end seams, a pair of axially spaced score lines extending through said outer flap and beyond said overlapped area into the body material and also spaced inwardly from said end seams, a second pair of axially spaced score lines extending through said inner flap and beyond said overlapped area into the body material and spa'ced in-v wardly from said end seams a distance substantially equal to that at which said first score lines are spaced from said end seams, portions of only said first score lines in the overlapping area of the outer flap being ofiset toward their adjacent end seams and thus spaced from corresponding portions of said second score lines said ofiset portions of the first score lines; outlining locking lugs on said outer flap, the differential spacing of said corresponding portions of the pairs of score lines 6 from said end seams providing locking ledges in the body material of the undisturbed remainder of the inner lap of said overlapping marginal portions thereby permitting said lugs on the outer flap to be looked under said ledges so that said outer flap serves as a reclosure after the flaps have been separated from their adhesive connection and severed along said pairs of score lines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 944,614 Jenkins Dec. 28, 1909 1,383,735 McGurn July 5, 1921 1,712,249 Byrne May 7, 1929 1,950,104 Ewers Mar. 6, 19 4 1,959,525 Dallar May 22-, 1934 2,167,917 Vogt Aug. 1, 1939 2,185,544 Darragh Jan. 2, 1940 2,294,964 Davidson Sept. 8, 1942 2,552,340 Moore May 8, 1951 2,561,391 Magill et a1 July 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 279,927 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1927 

